The United States strongly supports a call for all UN Member States to prevent the transfer of aviation fuel to the military regime in Burma, as outlined in a new report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar. We welcome the findings in this report identifying banks assisting the Burma military regime in purchasing weapons and other military materiel.

The people of Burma continue to suffer at the hands of the military regime. Since the military coup over three years ago, the regime continues to launch airstrikes on civilian populations. The violence has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, internally displacing nearly three million people and causing at least 300,000 people to seek protection in neighboring countries, and further threatening the stability and security of the region.

We are deeply concerned by reports of increased violence against civilians, use of human shields, and use of landmines near displaced persons camps in Rakhine State. These escalations have followed horrifying reports of forced recruitment of ethnic minorities, including Rohingya, and of women by the junta and other armed actors. The parties must respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians.

The United States continues to support ASEAN’s efforts to find a peaceful resolution to this crisis and reiterates the need for the UN Security Council to use all tools at its disposal to address the escalating crisis. Now is the time to act. The UN Security Council must demonstrate strong resolve to address the situation and build on Resolution 2669.

The United States will continue to work with our allies and regional partners, including ASEAN, to protect all civilians from the recurring atrocities committed by the regime, halt the transfer of arms and jet fuel to the military, and hold the regime to its commitments under the Five-Point Consensus.

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